Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that if Shubman Gill was fit to bat, then the side can easily win the first Test match against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Team India featured with 10 batters in both innings after Gill left the field midway due to a neck injury.
Gill, who has been playing continuous cricket since becoming the Test captain during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 in England, felt pain in his neck during day 2 of the Test match after executing a sweep for four off South Africa spinner Simon Harmer, and had left the field after receiving some initial treatment from the team's medical staff. After the end of the day's play, Sports Tak got to know that the batter was hospitalised.
Gavaskar on Gill's absence
In the exclusive conversation with Sports Tak, Gavaskar admitted that India could have won that match if Gill had been there to bat. He believes that a batter like Gill gives confidence to the batter who was there at the other end.
"Yes, it could very well have been a different result because, look Shubman Gill is a wonderful batter. And not only is he a wonderful batter, but when he gets going, the batter at the other end gets confidence. And that is the hallmark of great players is that they make batting easy for their partners as well. They take the load sometimes, they take the better bowlers, play the better bowlers, and show them how to play the better bowlers. And I think uh, Gill's presence would have been the difference. But that said, again, like you said, there's no place for ifs and buts, that's just unfortunate that about his injury" said Sunil Gavaskar on Sports Tak.
Gavaskar wished Gill to be fit before the second Test match which is scheduled to take place from November 22 at ACA Stadium in Guwahati.
"Hopefully, he'll be all right pretty quickly and will be there to lead the Indian team's revival in Guwahati" Gavaskar also said.
Will Shubman feature in 2nd Test?
There are chances that Shubman Gill will miss the second Test and in his absence vice-captain Rishabh Pant will lead the Men in Blue in Guwahati Test.